Stan Store vs Linktree: the short answer
Linktree is free if you only share links. Once you sell, Linktree requires Pro or Premium3, and Pro lists 0% fees4.
The real choice is Linktree Pro ($14.99 in-app1) against Stan Creator ($29, 0%25), and Linktree wins on price by about $15 to $26 a month in the example, so features decide. Prices and fees were checked on each company's own pages on Nov 5, 2026.
Prices and fees side by side, checked November 2026
The table uses the US App Store prices1.
| Stan Store | Linktree | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans and monthly price | Creator $29, Creator Pro $992 | Free, Starter $7.99, Pro $14.99, Premium $34.99 (US in-app)1 |
| Yearly price | Creator $300, Creator Pro $9482 | Yearly prices shown on linktr.ee/s/pricing |
| Free plan | No free plan, but a 14-day free trial | Yes, plus a 7-day trial on Pro and Premium6 |
| Platform fee on sales | 0% transaction fee5 | Free and Starter can't sell digital products3; Pro lists 0% fees4 |
| Card processing | Stripe fee 2.9% + $0.305 | Stripe fee 2.9% + $0.307 |
| Payout fee | 0.25% + $0.25 per payout, minimum $15 | $0.25 per payout4 |
| Where you can sell | Stan-managed Stripe in listed countries8 | Listed countries including US and Canada3 |
| Date checked | 2026-11-05 | 2026-11-05 |
One disagreement to know about: the September 2026 comparisons don't agree with each other or with Linktree. Stan's own comparison (updated Sep 16, 2026) lists 12% on the free plan and "0-12% per sale" depending on plan tier, with no 9% figure9. Only Eden's comparison (Sep 30, 2026) lists 12% on Free and 9% on Starter and Pro10. Linktree's help articles from October 2026 say selling requires Pro or Premium3, and they describe the Linktree fee only as a percentage of each sale that depends on your plan11. The 0% figure for Pro comes from Linktree's pricing page, which carries no date4.
There's also a price history wrinkle. Linktree raised plan prices on Oct 1, 2025, and the new prices apply to everyone, with at least 30 days' email notice before a change hits your billing cycle12. It's why older pages like SuperProfile's still show Starter $5, Pro $9 and Premium $2413.
The App Store currently lists old and new price points side by side1. Starter shows both $4.99 and $7.99. Pro lists $12.99 next to $14.99, and Premium lists $23.99 next to $34.99.
What each one costs at four sales levels
With both platforms at 0%, one table covers it. This is an example, not a quote.
Estimated monthly cost for each plan at $1,000 in sales, including subscriptions, Stripe processing and payout fees, based on Linktree and Stan pricing and help pages. Sources: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 10.
It assumes $25 digital products on US cards, with one monthly payout. Linktree Pro is set at the $14.99 in-app price with 0% as listed41, Stan Creator at $29 with 0%2, Stripe at 2.9% + $0.30 on both57, and each platform's stated payout fee54. Sales tax is not included.
| Monthly sales ($25 products) | Stripe fee (both) | Stan Creator total cost | You keep (Stan) | Linktree Pro total cost | You keep (Linktree) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $250 (10 sales) | $10.25 | $40.25 | $209.75 | $25.49 | $224.51 |
| $1,000 (40 sales) | $41.00 | $72.65 | $927.35 | $56.24 | $943.76 |
| $2,500 (100 sales) | $102.50 | $137.74 | $2,362.26 | $117.74 | $2,382.26 |
| $5,000 (200 sales) | $205.00 | $246.24 | $4,753.76 | $220.24 | $4,779.76 |
Linktree Pro costs about $15 to $26 less monthly at every level. The gap is mostly plan price. At the $1,000 level, the 9% fee older comparisons cite10 would put Linktree Pro at $146.24, against $56.24 at the current listed 0% fee.
Under Linktree's current listed fees, there is no break-even with Stan, because Linktree Pro is cheaper at every level in this example.
Creator at $29 includes Stan AutoDM. Yearly billing narrows the gap: Creator at $300 a year works out to $25 monthly, which saves $48 a year2.
Creator Pro costs $99 monthly2 and only pays off if you use funnels, order bumps, payment plans or email marketing9. At $1,000 in monthly sales in the example above, Stan Creator Pro totals $142.65.
What you can sell and the tools you get
The $29 Creator plan includes Stan AutoDM for automated Instagram replies. It also sells courses, digital products and coaching bookings through one bio link2. One naming trap: Stan Store and Stanley, an AI content tool, are separate products with separate pricing, so don't sign up for one expecting the other14.
Linktree sells digital products and online courses, with the courses powered by Kajabi and no separate Kajabi account needed4. Creators in supported countries, including the US and Canada, can also sell Bookings. On top of that, US creators get Shops, sponsored links, affiliate offers and Rewards, where Linktree's cut is a percentage of your commission rather than the order value, already built into the number shown37.
For email, Linktree's Pro and Premium tiers sync your collected email list to Mailchimp, Klaviyo, Kit, beehiiv, Flodesk or Google Sheets15. Stan builds email marketing into Creator Pro9. Linktree's Pro and Premium plans also let you reorder your Media Kit and download it as a PDF15.
Insights history runs 28 days on Free, 90 days on Starter, 365 days on Pro and lifetime on Premium15.
Instagram auto-reply DMs run 1,000, 1,500, 2,500 or unlimited a month by plan. Premium adds team and AI tools. Paid plans show no ads to visitors, while Free Linktrees can show ads15.
Each does something the other doesn't. Linktree brings a free plan and more design flexibility9, plus scale, with over 70 million users4. Stan's strength is the selling tools built into one $29 plan2. Both offer auto-reply DMs.
Rules to know before your first sale
On Linktree, you are the seller of record. You handle tax yourself, while refunds and chargebacks go through your own Stripe dashboard; Linktree's fees are non-refundable. Product prices must sit between $1 and $10,00011.
On Stan, you must be 18 or older to accept payments16. Payouts go through a Stan-managed Stripe Custom account in listed countries, and US territories other than Puerto Rico aren't eligible8.
Linktree's trials on Pro and Premium run 7 days and auto-renew into a paid plan unless you cancel6.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Linktree Free if you only share links and don't sell yet; free products can be shared on any plan, so you can test demand without paying3.
Pick Linktree Pro if you sell a few downloads or a course and want 0% listed fees at the lowest monthly price41. It's also the pick if you want the US-only Shops and sponsored links, plus affiliate offers37.
Pick Stan Creator if your page is mainly a store selling courses, digital products and coaching bookings from your link in bio, and you want those selling tools bundled for $292. Pick Creator Pro if you need what it adds, like funnels, order bumps, dynamic pricing, email marketing, campaign tracking or payment plans9. If neither feels right, see how a third option stacks up in Beacons vs Stan Store: fees, plans and who fits or Linktree vs Beacons: prices, fees and tools.
One aside for TikTok creators whose income is mostly paid brand videos rather than products: a link-in-bio store doesn't handle that workflow. Rateful's AI manager, Sam, answers brand emails at your handle@rateful.ai address and negotiates to the rate card you set, and Rateful takes 0% of your deals. If that sounds like your situation, two comparisons go deeper: Rateful vs Linktree for creators handling brand deals covers the brand-deal side, while Rateful vs Stan Store: prices, fees and who fits compares the store tools.
Questions people ask
Is Stan Store better than Linktree?
Neither is better overall; they fit different pages. Creator suits a page that works as a store, with the selling tools bundled at $292. Linktree suits a links page that also sells, with a free plan and more design flexibility9. Each includes auto-reply DMs.
Does Linktree take a percentage of sales in 2026?
Linktree's help center marks selling as a Pro and Premium feature, and its pricing page lists the fee at 0% on Pro114. Older comparisons from September 2026 disagree: Stan's own lists 12% on the free plan and 0-12% per sale depending on plan tier, while only Eden's lists 12% on Free and 9% on Starter and Pro910. So check the fee shown when you set your own price. Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee applies on every plan regardless7.
Can you sell digital products on Linktree for free?
No. Charging for digital products requires a paid Linktree plan, either Pro or Premium. Free products can be shared on any plan, so you can give things away on Free, but you can't charge for them there3.
Is there a free version of Stan Store?
No. Stan has no free plan but offers a 14-day free trial. The Creator plan costs $29 a month or $300 a year, and Creator Pro costs $99 a month or $948 a year2. Both plans take 0% of sales, so on top of the subscription you pay only Stripe processing and the payout fee5. If you want a free starting point, Linktree Free is the alternative, though it can't sell digital products3.
How much is Linktree Pro a month?
Linktree's US iPhone app lists Pro at $14.99 monthly, alongside an older $12.99 price point1. Linktree's prices changed on Oct 1, 202512.
Can I use Stan Store and Linktree together?
You can run both. A Linktree Free page costs nothing, and selling on Linktree as well would mean paying for Pro or Premium3 on top of Stan.